Al-Arabia – A reformist diplomat and former director of Western Asian affairs in the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mir Mahmoud Mousavi, warned about the consequences of the massacres committed and perpetrated by Iran and its militias in Syria. Mousavi, who is the former Iranian ambassador to India and Pakistan, said that “the killing of 300 thousand people and the displacement of …

VOA – In an unexpected reversal, President Barack Obama declined to sign a renewal of sanctions against Iran but let it become law anyway, in an apparent bid to alleviate Tehran’s concerns that the U.S. is backsliding on the nuclear deal. Although the White House had said that Obama was expected to sign the 10-year-renewal, the midnight deadline came and …

Iranhumanrights.org – Imprisoned Azeri civil rights activist Morteza Moradpour has lost 44 pounds  and is suffering from severe kidney pain 50 days into a hunger strike that he has vowed to continue until he is granted parole, his brother told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “His kidneys are in very bad shape and are getting worse every …

Iranhumanrights.org – After 43 days on hunger strike, political prisoner Ali Shariati, a long-time supporter of President Hassan Rouhani, has been hospitalized and is “critically ill,” his mother told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Ali’s blood pressure suddenly dropped on Friday (December 9, 2016) and he was transferred to Taleghani Hospital, but no one told us,” said Shayesteh-ol-Sadat …

Al-monitor — Mining could play a pivotal role in all economies, whether directly or indirectly, through providing materials for other industrial sectors. In Iran, the mining sector remains underdeveloped, despite the fact that the country is among the top 10 mineral-rich states. Government control over mines, which leaves little role for the private sector, and exploration problems coupled with lack of …

PayvandNews  – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that that strong relationship between Iran and Indonesia ties is beneficial to both countries and the larger Islamic world. In a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Tehran, Rouhani said Iran attaches great importance to relations with Indonesia as an important Islamic state in East Asia. Iranian President Hassan …

PayvandNews –  Iran and Russia signed 11 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on energy and industry cooperation in Tehran on Tuesday. Ten of the MOUs were penned during the 13th session of the Russian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Mahmoud Vaezi and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Mehr news agency reported. …

VOA – In an unusual display of public candor, Iranian authorities have said in recent speeches that Islamic State infiltrators are becoming a growing threat to the Islamic Republic. At least three times in recent months, Iranian officials have spoken about breaking up IS-related terror cells and arresting IS-affiliated militants planning attacks inside Iran. The claims lack many details, including …

RFL/RE – The Iranian president has ordered the country’s scientists to start planning the development of nuclear marine propulsion in response to what he called the United States’ violation of last year’s nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers. The White House reacted to news of President Hassan Rohani’s order by saying on December 13 that the move does not …

Al-Arabia -In an unprecedented move, Tehran is publicly hosting leaders of hardline Taliban movement in the ‘Islamic Unity’ conference. Tehran had previously denied any direct contact with the movement. According to the Iranian Mehr news agency, Iranian cleric Mohsen Araki, who is the Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, said at a press conference …